Telecom CEOs are unanimous: no more 3G auction delays

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New Delhi: With barely a fortnight to go before a pre-bid conference kicks off the process for 3G and WiMAX spectrum auctions on January 14, the telecom industry has its fingers crossed. The sector’s major players have been holding their breath for close to a year now for these auctions to take place, but time after time their hopes have been dashed by delays.

When FE spoke with CEOs of the country’s top mobile firms, the underlying message was simple: India is already far behind schedule and with the contentious issue of reserve prices resolved in August, there should be no further postponements. The auctions have already been pushed back from the original December 7 date by more than a month.

Manoj Kohli, CEO of the country’s largest telecom operator, Bharti Airtel, could barely conceal his company’s impatience. “Indian consumers have waited far too long for the technology and we at Airtel are keen to participate in the 3G spectrum auction. We have the strongest balance sheet and virtually no debt. We don’t even need to raise money from the market. If all goes well, we could launch the service by Diwali next year.”

Martin Pieters, CEO of the country’s second-largest GSM operator, Vodafone-Essar, is normally media shy—since assuming office a couple of months ago, he has refrained from commenting upon most industry issues. But Pieters was hardly reticent on 3G. “We feel 3G services should be made available to consumers in India as soon as possible. We are ready for it and hope that the auction is carried out at the earliest,” he told FE.

Tata Teleservices, the country’s sixth-largest mobile operator, is just as raring to go. Managing director Anil Sardana said, “The 3G goalposts have been moved more than a few times, depriving Indian consumers of next-generation telecom services. TTSL has been advocating and awaiting quick rollout of 3G services in India, especially as our networks are 3G-ready. Since the eGoM has already charted out the path forward, we are hopeful that the government will adhere to the set timeline.”